Somerset Senior Cup: Ilminster Town 4-0 Burnham United

IN a devastating opening the Blues raced into a 3-0 lead that effectively killed this Somerset Senior first round Cup tie in the opening twenty minutes.

After this the match was more even with Ilminster adding a second half goal to run out 4-0 winners.

Right from the off it was one way traffic as the Blues camped in the Burnham half, Lewis Trusson ran through and picked up the ball twenty yards from goal before taking the shot early and scoring in off the post to make it 1-0 after three minutes.

Tom Case from his own half played a delightful ball into Taylor Jefferson who brought it under control with a great touch and with out breaking stride he made it 2-0 with a smart finish.

Burnham then over played at the back and Trusson stole the ball before side stepping the last defender to roll it in from close range to make it 3-0.

Burnham who play one League below Ilminster in Division One of the Somerset County League did rally and slowly came back into the match.

They should have scored with a couple of good chances, on the half hour mark but their striker missed the target after a cut back left him in a good position.

From a free kick they had another chance with Jack Rutter saving a header that was on target.

In the second half the tempo slowed as the hot weather took its toil with the Blues playing well within themselves.

The introduction of the substitutes with 20 minutes remaining led to more urgency, Evan Howse made a strong run down the right before cutting the ball back to Jefferson on the edge of the 18 yard area where he sweetly fired home to make it 4-0.

Joe Allen very nearly scored a wonder goal as he hit a high ball first time only to be denied as his volley was tipped over the bar by the keeper.

Next came a great passage of play involving three of the substitutes Chris Nezianya and Kieran Manley linked well before Manley rolled it into the path of Drew Stride on the edge of the area, unfortunately Stride could not keep his effort down and it went over the bar.

Manley who was making his first appearance of the season then picked up the ball centrally before playing it wide to Stride, whose first time cross was well met by Manley in the air forcing a good save from a header.

4-0 was a fair score line, the whole 16 players played well with Lee Sweet back from his break star man as he looked in total command in the centre of the defence.